Guides
In-depth, start-to-finish guides that tie our calculators and finders together.
Raising Backyard Chickens
Rules, breeds, housing, brooding, feed and the timeline to the first egg.
The Homestead Garden Year
Frost dates, soil, planting schedules, compost, harvest and winter planning.
Preserving the Harvest Safely
Water bath and pressure canning, altitude, jar yields, root cellars and maple syrup.
Off-Grid Water and Power Basics
Water demand, wells, rainwater, generators, solar, batteries and septic.
Heating with Wood
Species and BTU, seasoning, cords, stoves, chimneys and safety.
How to use the guides
Each guide walks through a whole project in order, from the decisions you make first to the checks you make last. They explain why the numbers matter, give worked examples and link to the calculators, finders and converters that do the arithmetic for you. Read a guide through once to see the whole picture, then use the linked tools when you are ready to plan your own numbers.
What the guides cover
The five guides cover the areas where homesteaders most often need a clear plan: raising chickens, the garden year, preserving food safely, off-grid water and power and heating with wood. Each one names the sources behind its figures and flags where a tested recipe, a veterinarian, a licensed professional or your local authority has the last word.
Safety and sources
Several guides touch on safety-critical topics such as food preservation, electricity, fuel and animal health. They give general guidance, not advice for your particular situation. Read our disclaimer and safety notes and see how we calculate for how we choose and check our sources. If you spot an error, please report it.